Tooth cleanser



` July', 1935.

F. H. GRANT TOOTH`CLEANSER Filed March 19, 1934 fl-ff.

INVENTORl ATTORNEYS Patented July 16, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT TOOTH CLEAN SER Francis H. Grant, Detroit, Mich., assignor, by

direct and mesne assignments, to Stim-U- Dents, Inc., Detroit, Mich., a corporation of l Michigan Application March 19, 1934, Serial No. 716,417

d Claims. (Cl. 132-89) so form the tooth cleanser that it approximately fits the interproximal spaces; to so form the tooth cleanser that it may cleanse the spaces between the teeth and the free margins of the gums; to form the tooth cleanser of compressible material so that it will conform to the interproximal spaces and pass between the teeth; and to so forni the tooth cleanser 'that it may be more readily compressed.

Another object is to form the tooth cleanser of a wood which is compressible and will not splinter to an objectionable extent and yet has suiicient strength for the purposes for which the tooth cleanser is used.

Further objects are to impregnate the tooth cleanser with a medicament to increase the beneiicial action of the cleaner and to impregnate the cleanser with an abrasive to assist in cleansing the teeth.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tooth cleanser embodying my* invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse section therethrough;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section therethrough;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of my invention.

`The tooth cleanser comprises the body l hav1 ing the tapered ends 2 and 3, the taper of the end 3 being more gradual than that of the end 2. The body has an approximate triangular cross section so that it will approximately fit the interproximal spaces. The ends 2 and 3 of the body being tapered longitudinally of the body facilitate entry of the tooth cleanser into the interproximal spaces and between the teeth. x

The body is formed of compressible and deformable material so that it will adapt itself or conform to the interproximal spaces and will pass between the teeth. More particularly, the body is'formed of wood commonly called balsa wood, this wood being in the cork wood family. This Wood is quite soft and compressible and will not objectionably splinter in use. However, the iibers forming the end of the body being used, when moistened by saliva from the mouth, will soften and readily conform to the contour of the teeth, this being particularly useful in cleansing the spaces between the teeth and the free margins of the gums. The body is made with the grain of the wood extending longitudinally thereof `and has a suiricient cross sectional area to secure the necessary strength to withstand the transverse stresses to which it is subjected when cleansing 5 these latter spaces and the strength of the body longitudinally thereof is much greater so that it readily withstands the longitudinall pressure to which it is subjected when cleansing the interproximal spaces.

10 For the purpose of making the tooth cleanser' so that it may be more readily compressed in a transverse direction and also for the purpose of forming the tooth cleanser so that it more nearly conforms to the contour of the portions of the 15 gums between adjacent teeth, the narrowest side of the body l is formed with the longitudinally extending groove t, thereby making the cross sectional area of the 'body arrow-head shaped. By

reason of this construction, either or both of the 2@ wings 5 formed by the groove may enter and cleanse the spaces between the free margins of the gums and the teeth in the interproximal spaces. Also, with this construction, the tooth cleanser may be used to gently massage and 25 thereby stimulate the gums.

To increase the beneficial action of the tooth cleanser, the body i is preferably impregnated with a medicament which is` preferably in the nature of an iodine solution. Also the body i 30 is preferably impregnated with a suitable abrasive, such as one formed of cuttle bone, to facilitate cleansing of the teeth. However, in certain instances, either the medicament or the abrasive may be omitted, depending upon the particu- 35 lar purposes for which the tooth cleanser is to be used.

in the modiiication shown in Figure 4, the tooth cleanser has the body 6 which, instead of being tapered at both ends, is tapered at one end and 10v formed flat or at a right angle at the other end.` Otherwise this body is formed of the same maf' f terial and in the same manner and may be used in the same way'as the body I. The at end may be used in cleansing and polishing the teeth., 45

cent teeth, the saliva from the mouth rendering O F F l C E the said body readily conformable to the `interproximal spaces, for the purpose set forth.

3. A tooth cleanser of the class described comprising a solid elongated body adapted to be in.

5 serted between the teeth, said body being formed of material which when moistened by the saliva from the mouth renders the said body transversely conformable to the interproximal space..

4. A dental instrument of the class described 10 for cleaning interproximal spaces and massaging gums comprising a solid body adapted to be inserted between the teeth, said body being formed of a material which when moistened by the saliva from the mouth renders the said body conformable to the interproximal space, said body being provided with a. longitudinally extending surface shaped to conform to and engage the adjacent gum area, for thepurpose set forth. 

